Malleable seat base with differentiated accommodation sectors for protuberant areas applied on seats of furniture destined to accommodating individuals in the seated position

ABSTRACT

A malleable seat base with differentiated accommodation sectors for protuberant areas applied on seats of furniture destined to the accommodation of seated individuals” represented by an inventive solution in the furniture industry, specifically in furniture destined to the accommodation of individuals in the position technically known as “seated position,” wherein, to solve the problem of discomfort created by protuberances on the individual&#39;s clothing (A), notably in pockets (c 1 ) of pants (c 1 ), in the gluteal region, to the seat (b) notably in the structural foam element (b 22 ), at least two relief sectors (b 23 ), also made of foam, are introduced in line with the pockets (c 1 ), wherein, however, their density is lower than the structural foam (b 22 ) density, wherein, alternatively, the relief sectors may be defined in the form of empty spaces, inflatable purses and even a mechanical dampening system.

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention is directed to the furniture and seats industry,specifically in furniture destined to the accommodation of individualsin the position technically known as “seated position.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide veracity, and to consolidate the context explicatedin the topics of the introduction, an explanation shall be provided onthe state-of-the-technique dictated by solutions developed and largelyused to provide accommodation of seated, i.e., resting individuals,wherein, after a critical analysis thereof, once exposed toprofessionals with expertise in the design of products provided withergonomics in association with designs of furniture for seating of thehuman body, they may identify their limiting aspects, thus consolidatingthe identification of the need of ergonomic nature listed above.

Conventional Constructive Concept:

Furniture destined to provide accommodation of a seated individual isknown for thousands of years, wherein, with human evolution, suchfurniture experienced a great evolution, with the milestone of thesearch for the best possible ergonomics, i.e., to provide maximumcomfort, invariably resulting in a constructive concept that may beunderstood by the composition of the following structural and functionalmodules:

-   -   Structural base module: Comprised by a structure sustaining the        seat module; may be comprised of feet (in case of chairs) or        even one involving base (in case of armchairs or seats of motor        vehicles);    -   Seat module: Comprised by a structure specified to provide        accommodation for the gluteal region, and also support the        individual body weight, which, in seated position, is        concentrated on said region;    -   Support arms module: Present in some furniture destined to        provide accommodation to seated individuals, being, in general,        assembled on the lateral ends of the seat module structure, with        the function of providing support and rest to the individual's        forearms; and    -   Back module: Also present in some furniture destined to provide        accommodation for seating individuals, being assembled on the        posterior part on the structure of the seat module, with the        function of providing support and rest to the back of the        individual.

In a remissive manner, furniture destined to provide accommodation toseated individuals have the following qualities:

-   -   To provide comfort for the legs, with an optimized proportion of        the height of the moveable seat related to the height of the        legs of the individual;    -   To provide comfort for the arms, with an optimized proportion of        the forearms related to the “arms” of the furniture,    -   To provide comfort of the back region, with an optimized        proportion of the seatback with the curvature of the vertebral        column of the individual, as well as related to the comfort        generated by the correct accommodation of the back of the        individual to the seatback; and    -   To provide comfort of the gluteal region, with an optimined        proportion of the height of the seat related to the gluteus,        when the individual is in semi-squat position and also related        to the comfort generated by the uniform distribution of the        weight of the body seated on the seat.

It is notorious that there is an infinity of solutions in furniture toprovide rest to the seated individual, being also a general consensusthat there are solutions with a high comfort degree, and incompensation, solutions that leave something to be desired in thissense.

For purposes of this invention, the applicant has elected the seatmodule of furniture destined to provide accommodation of a seatedindividual. Even though this constructive concept contained in the seatmodule of furniture to provide rest to a seated individual presentsfunctional efficacy, it has a series of restrictive aspects, wherein,for purposes of this invention, the factor ergonomics of rest of theindividual's gluteal region shall be considered for study.

Within this context, it is a fact that individuals, notably male, arecontumacious users of the pockets defined on the front and on the backof their pants, shorts. Particularly, focusing on the use of the backpockets of clothes, particularly men use them to accommodate wallets.

Most recently, it has become common to accommodate therein mobiletelephone devices. It occurs that, upon using such wallets or mobiletelephone devices, the individual creates on their gluteal region anaesthetically undesirable protuberance when they stand up.

On the other hand turn, when the individual sits down on a specificfurniture seat (motor vehicles seat, couches, among others, suchprotuberance interferes directly on the distribution of the individual'sweight on said seat, causing the occurrence of a compression action,which, in a tight synthesis, causes the occurrence of a reverse force ofcompression, specifically against their gluteal region. Such reversecompression is what determines a certain discomfort of the individual,thus compromising their use ergonomics.

Considering the industry and trade of furniture destined to accommodateindividuals on seated position, the applicant has noticed an emergingneed of providing use ergonomics to them when a protuberance is formedon the gluteal part of the clothing. Such use ergonomics may betranslated by the obtainment of a seated position of the individual withmaximum comfort, wherein, in such condition, the individual mustexperience a high degree of satisfaction in comfort, mainly when oneconsiders the fact that said individual must remain seated for a longtime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the revelations of the invention demand topic, theapplicant has elected as a paradigm of development seats of furnituredestined to provide rest on seated position, and for purposes hereof,the applicant has elected chairs or seats of motor vehicles.

More specifically, it is possible to list a roster of furnitureparticularly useful to receive the malleable seat base withdifferentiated sectors of accommodation for protuberant areas.

By protuberant areas we understand those areas with a rebound comparedto the area commonly defined for the gluteus of an individual, whendressed, such as on the region where the back pockets are provided,wherein, in complement, protuberances are commonly formed by objectsaccommodated inside the so-called back pockets, such as wallets.

By furniture for seated accommodation, it is possible to list a richroster of possibilities, such as furniture for the residentialenvironment (chairs, sofas, puffs, among others) and seats for motor,terrestrial, sea and air vehicles, among others.

According to the demand and paradigm of the invention, the applicantidealized an unedited “malleable seat base with differentiated sectorsof accommodation for protuberating areas applied to seats of furnituredestined to accommodating seated individuals” provided with theassociated novelty of inventive activity, for it does not result, in anobvious or evident manner, of other known solutions in thestate-of-the-technique for furniture of this nature and of conventionalconstructive and functional concept.

Additionally, the “invention” is provided with industrial applicability,being economically feasible and, therefore, thoroughly fulfilling thepatentability requirements, notably as an invention patent.

The applicant, aware of the gap existing for the current seat module offurniture with the purpose of providing rest to seated individuals, hasidealized an inventive solution wherein, even though they do noteliminate the eventual existence of a protuberance on the back pocketsof clothing, causes the discomfort caused thereby to be at leastminimized, with the consequent obtainment of a seat module withergonomic quality.

In order to render feasible the benefit listed, the seat module presentsa differentiated constructive embodiment, wherein, considering that suchseat presents a foam base, exactly on the point of contact of gluteus,its area then receives an insertion of a foam segment of lesser density,thus collaborating with a correct and effective action of accommodationof the individual's gluteal region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement this description so as to obtain a better comprehension ofthe characteristics of this invention and, according to a preferred formof practical embodiment thereof, followed by the attached description, aset of drawings, where, in an exemplified manner, but not limitedthereto, the following was represented:

FIG. 1 illustrates a general representation of an individual seated on achair-type piece of furniture indicating the seat module, which is theobject of present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative representation of the condition ofaccommodation of the gluteus of the individual on a conventional seatmodule, indicating the undesired accommodation upon the presence ofprotuberances on the pockets of the individual's clothing;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative representation of the condition ofaccommodation of the gluteus of the individual on a seat moduleaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative representation on an orthogonalcross-sectional view of the seat module, according to an embodiment withthe introduction of segments of foam of better density in the region ofaccommodation of the gluteus;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative representation on a transversalcross-sectional view of the new constructive layout of the seat module,in an embodiment of the invention with the introduction of segments offoam of lesser density in the region of accommodation of the gluteus;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative representation of the condition ofaccommodation of the gluteus of the individual on a seat moduleaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative representation on an orthogonalcross-sectional view of the seat module, according to another embodimentof the invention with empty spaces in the region of accommodation of thegluteus;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative representation on a transversalcross-sectional view of seat module, according to another embodiment ofthe invention with empty spaces in the region of accommodation of thegluteus;

FIG. 9 is an illustrative representation of the condition ofaccommodation of the gluteus of the individual on a seat moduleaccording to yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustrative representation on an orthogonalcross-sectional view of the seat module, according to yet anotherembodiment of the invention with inflated bags in the region ofaccommodation of the gluteus;

FIG. 11 is an illustrative representation on a transversalcross-sectional view of the seat module, according to yet anotherembodiment of the invention with inflated bags in the region ofaccommodation of the gluteus;

FIG. 12 is an illustrative representation of the condition ofaccommodation of the gluteus of the individual on a seat moduleaccording to still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is an illustrative representation on an orthogonalcross-sectional view of seat module, according to still anotherembodiment of the invention with a damping mechanism in the region ofaccommodation of the gluteus; and

FIG. 14 is an illustrative representation on a transversalcross-sectional view of the seat module, according to still anotherembodiment of the invention with a damping mechanism in the region ofaccommodation of the gluteus.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numbers and characters,unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like elements, components,portions or features of the illustrated embodiments. The subjectinvention will be described in detail in conjunction with theaccompanying figures, in view of the illustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description must be read and interpreted withreference to the drawings presented, representing a preferred form ofrealization for the “malleable seat base with differentiated sectors foraccommodation for the protuberating areas applied on seats of furnituredestined to the accommodation of seated individuals,” not being intendedto limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only to what isexplicited in the claims chart.

As evidenced in FIG. 1, one individual is represented (A) in seatedposition on a piece of furniture (B), chairlike, evidencing the partsthat are the main components of such piece of furniture, such as: base(b1), in the form of fixed or rotating feet, for instance, seat (b2),rest arms (b3) and back (b4).

As evidenced in FIG. 2, the individual (A), when sitting down, hashis/her gluteal region accommodated on the seat (b2), creating a forceof contact (F1), wherein, however, when clothing (c) such as pants, hastheir pockets (c1) filled with objects, such as wallet, cell-phone,etc., generating a protuberating region, which, on its turn, uponforcing on the seat cover (b21), causes a reverse effect, causing thecreation of a reverse force (F2) to the force of contact (F1).

Such condition occurs due to the structural foam (b22) presentinguniform thickness, which causes it to be adequate to the contact withthe gluteal region, but is not effective on the region of protuberance,causing it, due to the action of a the reverse force (F2) to returncompared to the gluteal region, causing discomfort in the individual(A).

As evidenced in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the new layout for the seat (b2) nowhas at least two relief sectors (b23), in the form of an insertion withfoam of lesser density compared to the structural foam (22).

As evidenced in FIG. 3, the individual (A), when sitting down, has theirgluteal region accommodated on the seat (b2), creating a force ofcontact (F1), wherein, however, when clothing (c) such as pants, hastheir pockets (c1) filled with objects, such as wallet, cell-phone,etc., generating a protuberating region, which, on its turn, uponforcing on the seat cover (b21), causes a reverse effect, causing thecreation of a reverse force (F2) to the force of contact (F1).

In a tight synthesis, the region of protuberance is easily accommodatedon the seat (b).

Within the context of the previous paragraphs, it is also possible tothink in a second form of embodiment of the invention, wherein in theregion of accommodation of the gluteus, specifically in the position ofthe ischial tuberosities, the relief sectors (b23) are merely emptyspaces, as evidenced in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 respectively.

On the other hand, in another form of embodiment, the relief sectors(b23) may be defined in the form of inflatable purses, as evidenced inFIGS. 9, 10 and 11 respectively.

Finally, and in another form of embodiment, the relief sectors (b23) maybe defined as a dampening platform, comprised by an inferior basestructure (b24) on which a set of springs (b25) is assembled, which, onits turn, is superimposed by a support plate (b26), as evidenced inFIGS. 12, 13 and 14 respectively.

It is verified through the description and illustrations that themalleable seat base with differentiated sectors of accommodation forprotuberant areas applied on seats of furniture destined to theaccommodation of seated individuals claimed herein fits in the standardsgoverning the invention patent in the light of the Industrial PropertyLaw, and deserves, under what was exposed and as a consequence, therespective privilege.

The choice of the preferred form of realization of the invention objectof the claim hereof, described in this invention details topic issupplied only as example. Changes, modifications and variations may bemade for any forms of realization of inventive seat by those withability in the art, without, however, diverging from the purposerevealed in the plea of this patent, which is exclusively defined by theattached claims.

I Claim:
 1. A malleable seat base with differentiated sectors ofaccommodation for the protuberant areas applied on seats of furnituredestined to the accommodation of seated individuals, wherein one pieceof furniture (B) includes a base (b1), in the form of fixed or rotatingfeet, for instance, a seat (b2), support arms (b3) and back (b4),wherein on an seat (b2) it is comprised of a cover (b21) which covers astructural foam (b22), said seat (b2) comprising: at least two sectorsof relief (b23) of foam inserted in the structural foam (b22).
 2. Themalleable seat according to claim 1, wherein the relief sectors (b23)comprise foam of lesser density than the structural foam (b22).
 3. Themalleable seat according to claim 1, wherein said relief sectors (b23)comprise empty spaces.
 4. The malleable seat according to claim 1,wherein the relief sectors (b23) comprise inflatable purses.
 5. Themalleable seat according to claim 1, wherein the relief sectors (b23)comprise an accommodation platform comprised of an inferior basestructure (b24) on which a set of springs (b25) is assembled, which inturn, is super-imposed by a support plate (b26).